Meet the Team

The men we serve benefit immensely from Emmaus House. They are afforded the opportunity to live and work with other men who are facing similar obstacles. A supportive and nourishing environment in which to exercise alternative coping mechanisms is invaluable in the promotion of long-term sobriety.

It’s said that addiction does not discriminate, nor do we. Our doors are open to all men in need of our services. Although our men come from all walks of life, common ground can be found in recovery.

Staff

Joe Demuro

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Joe has an Associates degree in Social Services from Middlesex County College and earned a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology from Montclair University. Joe has experience working with runaways, emotionally disturbed individuals, mentally challenged individuals and autistic individuals. Joe also has experience working in residential treatment and is a NC certified Peer Support Specialist. Joe joined Emmaus House in 2011.

Bruce zeigler

 DIRECTOR

Bruce has been in longterm recovery . He has worked as a rapid responder at Healing Transitions.

He worked providing peer support and outreach to those individuals experiencing homelessness and substance disorder.

Bruce has three sons and three grandchilden.

Officers

John Ware

CHAIR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bio

John is a Director of Special Projects & Strategy for Lane & Associates Family Dentistry. He is a native of Richmond, Virginia and graduate of Hampden-Sydney College. John and daughter Georgeanne belong to Christ Episcopal Church. He started volunteering for recovery centers over 10 years ago. He is an avid runner and a 2017 graduate of Leadership Raleigh. Former board positions include Back On My Feet (Baltimore), Open Door Mission (Houston) and Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation (Houston). John joined the Board in 2017. He is also very active within the Raleigh F3 community.

Jerry Sayre

VICE CHAIR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bio
Jerry has practiced law in North Carolina since 2004 and is currently employed with Ward and Smith where he focuses on employment law. He has a degree from John Carroll University and a law degree from Ohio State University. Jerry has been active in the Great Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, serves on the board of the Wake County Community Foundation and is a member and former treasurer of the Rotary Club of Raleigh. He and wife, Mandy, have a four-year-old daughter, Eloise. Jerry joined the Board in 2013.

Bob Cato

SECRETARY, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bio
Bob is a retired electronic engineer who worked at IBM on the hardware design of point-of-sale systems and in-patent engineering. IBM patented 60 of his ideas. Bob and his wife have a grown daughter and have been responsible for the care and management of family members with Alzheimer’s disease and mental illness for many years. In the mid-to-late 1980’s, when homeless men slept in different churches, he worked on homeless issues in Raleigh. He is a member of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church where he volunteers with the youth on Wednesday nights, at retreats and at summer camp. He enjoys boating and saltwater fishing. Bob joined the Board in 2016.

Maureen Gilchrest 

CRM , BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Bio

Maureen is a Director, Technical Engagement Management at Aviatrix Systems, a tech startup based out of Santa Clara, CA.  Born and raised in Northern NJ, Maureen relocated to North Carolina in 2017.  She holds a degree in Management Information Systems from Ramapo College of NJ and brings 25+ years of technical project and program management expertise.

Maureen resides in Apex, NC and is an active and zealous volunteer and advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association (in both NC and NJ) due to significant impacts of this disease on her extended family.  Maureen is an avid Hibernophile and travels to Ireland regularly, having spent many years researching her Irish roots.  Philanthropy is a key tenet of Maureen’s life – she thrives when she is helping others!  Maureen joined the Board in 2023.

Board Members

John Sidebotham

BOARD MEMBER

Bio
John Reid Sidebotham is the Executive Vice President for The Nautical Group, a retained Executive Search firm in Raleigh. He works with clients, from Fortune 500 to privately-held businesses, to develop creative solutions to address talent acquisition challenges.

John Reid brings a background in Economic Development and Public Affairs to The Nautical Group. At Wake County Economic Development (WCED), a program of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, John Reid was a key member of WCED’s business recruitment and expansion team – focusing on inbound projects and foreign direct investment. Prior to WCED, John Reid worked for a strategic communications and public affairs group in Washington, DC – Squared Communications.

John Reid lives in Raleigh with his wife Greyson and their son, Reid. John Reid is a graduate of Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, NC. He is on the American Cancer Society’s North Carolina Board, Triangle YMCA’s Young Professional Advisory Board and is active in the North Carolina Economic Development Association.

Rosemary Crane

BOARD MEMBER
Bio
Rosemary is a Raleigh native, and has retired after 38 years as a registered nurse, specializing in the field of medical and surgical cancer care. She spent the majority of her career at the Triangle’s cancer centers at Duke, UNC and Rex Hospitals.

Rosemary graduated from Saint Mary’s High School In Raleigh and graduated with a degree in Nursing from Florida State College. She is an active supporter of Kidznotes, Healing Transitions, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and Saint Mary’s School. She has served on the Triangle Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Man and Woman of the Year Leadership team.

Rosemary lives in Raleigh with her husband, Jeff. She enjoys being a grandmother, golfer, knitter, poetry writer, and yogi.

Jeff Beam

BOARD MEMBER
Bio
Jeff Beam works at Balfour Beatty Construction as an Operations Director. He has over 30 years experience in the construction industry and has worked on commercial and industrial projects with the last 17 years in the Raleigh Area. He is a graduate of Penn State University and originally from Pittsburgh PA area. He enjoys spending time with his family at the coast and coaching football. He lives in Apex with his wife Barbara and their two boys in college and a daughter.

Robby Brinley

BOARD MEMBER
Bio
Robby attended Wingate University and for the past 20 years has worked in his family’s business, Brinley’s Grading Company. He is also co-owner of Lawson Hammocks of Raleigh. He serves as membership chair of the annual Vision Walk for the Foundation for Fighting Blindness. He is also an active supporter of the American Cancer Society, Special Olympics and the American Diabetes Association. Robby enjoys outdoor activities as well as the Carolina Hurricanes and NCSU Wolfpack. He participates with his oldest daughter in the Y Guides program at the Alexander Family YMCA. He and his family attend Christ Episcopal Church. Robby joined the Board in 2010.

Gary Davis

BOARD MEMBER
Bio
As a management consultant for Dorrier Underwood, Gary Davis leads engagements that empower teamwork, partnership, and accountability. He works with senior leadership teams, sales producers, and interdisciplinary teams to enable them to achieve unprecedented results.

He is also a keynoter and motivational speaker. Gary is known for his insight, humor, and humanity. His business experience spans the fields of IT, banking and finance, real estate, and healthcare. Before joining the Dorrier Underwood team in 2009, he worked for IBM and Cisco Systems in sales and delivery.

Gary is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a member of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and a past member of the Executive Board.

Gary has been devoted to his wife Robin since 1986. He is has three children and loves cooking healthy, delicious meals.

Sean Hill

BOARD MEMBER

Bio
Sean is a graduate of Clemson University and holds a degree in Civil Engineering with a minor in Business Management. Sean worked as a project manager for six years with Holder Construction Company out of Atlanta, Georgia working on projects in Virginia and North Carolina. Sean joined Kane Realty in 2016 as a Construction Manager overseeing large scale office developments including the Bank of America Tower and Allscripts Tower in North Hills and the Dillon Office Tower in Raleigh’s downtown warehouse district. Sean is a LEED Accredited Professional and Green Globes Professional. Sean and his wife, Sarah, have lived in Raleigh since 2014. Sean joined the Board at the end of 2017.

Jake Parrott

BOARD MEMBER

Bio

Jake Parrott is a commercial real estate attorney in Parker Poe’s Raleigh office. He focuses his practice on commercial real estate transactions that include the new development, acquisition, and sale of all commercial property types, as well as leasing, real estate financing, and lending. Jake’s clients include developers, commercial real estate lenders, property owners, and companies expanding their real estate portfolios.

Jake is a leader within the North Carolina Bar Association’s Real Property Section, serving on its council. He is also an active member of the North Carolina Bankers Association.

Outside of his legal practice, Jake is committed to serving his community. He is a board member of the Nash Community College Foundation, the Nash UNC Health Care Foundation, and Emmaus House, which provides safe, affordable housing for recovering male addicts in Raleigh. He is also a past president of Habitat for Humanity and Big Brothers Big Sisters in the Rocky Mount area.

Jacob joined the Board in 2018.

Eileen O’Riordan

BOARD MEMBER
Bio

Eileen is a consultant with Red Hat Inc. in their Services Division. Born and bred in Ireland, she moved to Raleigh ten years ago. She has a degree in Economics and a Masters in Computer Science from Dublin City University. She also holds both CPA and PMP certifications.

She lives in Cary with her husband, Brian, and their three girls. She is an active member of St. Michaels Youth Ministry in Cary and teaches faith formation. She is very passionate about her culture and heritage and can be found Irish dancing on many evenings. She has been an active volunteer and spent some time in Lesotho working with local communities. Eileen joined the Board in 2018.

Eileen is a consultant with Red Hat Inc. in their Services Division. Born and bred in Ireland, she moved to Raleigh ten years ago. She has a degree in Economics and a Masters in Computer Science from Dublin City University. She also holds both CPA and PMP certifications.

She lives in Cary with her husband, Brian, and their three girls. She is an active member of St. Michaels Youth Ministry in Cary and teaches faith formation. She is very passionate about her culture and heritage and can be found Irish dancing on many evenings. She has been an active volunteer and spent some time in Lesotho working with local communities. Eileen joined the Board in 2018.

Ian  Saunders

BOARD MEMBER
Bio
Ian is a lifelong NC resident and graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill. Ian lives in Raleigh with his wife, Allie, and enjoys traveling, golfing, and fly fishing. As CEO and founder of Memoria Holdings, Ian serves families seeking compassionate funeral services around the country. Ian serves as an advisor and investor in technology companies in senior living and end-of-life care. 

 

FOUNDING DIRECTORS

Paul Carr
Larry Highfill
Jim Hutchby
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